The release of Al Gore's new book, The Assault on Reason on May 22 is sure to be a major political event, and not just because of his subject, which he describes as being
How the Politics of Fear, Secrecy, and Blind Faith Subvert Wise Decision Making, Degrade Our Democracy, and Put Our Country and Our World in Peril.
It's been known for over a month that Gore is planning a 12-city tour to promote the book. Pundits, Gore admirers, Gore-runners (those chanting "Run Al Run"), and Gore drafters alike see the tour as a chance to learn more about whether Gore intends to enter the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.
If Gore's P.R. people are trying to create buzz, which is after all their job, they're doing it by releasing information about the tour in dribs and drabs. There's nothing, nada, on the publisher's web site. However, I have been able to find dates for five appearances from other sources.
My first inkling of the schedule was from a diary by NYPopulist. Gore will appear in New York City
Thursday, May 24
Al Gore
The Assault on Reason (The Penguin Press)
92nd Street Y
Interview w/ Charlie Rose & Signing
8:00 PM
Friday, May 25
Al Gore
The Assault on Reason (The Penguin Press)
Barnes & Noble (Union Square)
33 East 17th Street
Talk and signing
12:30 PM
The three other dates are
- Tuesday, May 22, publication day, in Los Angeles (link UPDATED),
The Wilshire Theatre
8440 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills
at 7:30 p.m.
Former Vice President and Academy Award winner Al Gore takes on the current administration's preoccupation with eroding reason and obfuscating the truth about critical issues we as Americans face. Gore's manifesto, a new book called "The Assault on Reason," states clearly that truth has taken a backseat to governing by fear. There is little time left to repair our standing in the world, and if we want to rescue the environment, national security, the economy, and social welfare, we had better move fast.
He will appear with Harry Shearer, who is creator and host of the weekly radio show, LeShow on KCRW.
- Wednesday, May 23, in the San Francisco Bay Area
Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium at Marin Center
10 Avenue of the Flags
San Rafael
7:00 p.m.
According to the Book Passage Book Store, co-sponsor of the talk, the first allotment of tickets has been sold out but more may go on sale from the Marin Center box office starting at 11:00 am on May 9, or through Ticketmaster at 415-499-6800 or ticketmaster.com.
- Tuesday, May 29, in Washington, DC
The George Washington University Lisner Auditorium
730 21st Street, NW
7:00 p.m.
The only other hard information I have, from a Cambridge bookseller, is that there is no event scheduled in the Boston area.
Of course Gore-runners and Gore drafters also see this tour as a golden opportunity to encourage Gore to run, publicize their support for Gore's candidacy, and generally make noise. I suggest you get your tix early if you also want to hear Al.
If his 2005 speech on The Threat to American Democracy: The Media and Political Discourse is any indication, his talk will be worth every penny it costs to get in.
Please post info you might have or find on other dates. I will post updates as these come in.
UPDATE: As of 10:30 p.m. EDT, no comments have been posted on other dates or cities. Has the tour been scaled back from 12 to 5 cities or will the other cities be announced later (and closer to the date)? I will post updates as I get new information.